But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” 2 Corinthians 4:7. let your light shine through your cracked pot. Ring the bells that still can ring, Forget your perfect offering, there is a crack in everything, That's how the light gets in.

Then certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some said, “What does this babbler want to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods,” because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection. Acts 17:18 NKJV.

Babbler, spermologos, Strong’s #4691: Athenian slang for:

A bird that picks up seeds;

Men lounging around the marketplace, making a living by picking up whatever falls from the loads of merchandise;

A babbler, chatterer, or gossip retailing bits and pieces of misinformation;

A pseudo-intellectual who insists on spouting off.

Tragically, the super-intellectuals on Mars Hill failed to see in Paul all the necessary ingredients for being a truth bringer.

Epicureanism (seeking tranquility as the highest good) and Stoicism (being free passion and passively accepting everything in life as inevitable, impersonal fate) were popular philosophies.

And He said, “What comes out of a man, that defiles a man.” “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.” “All these evil things come from within and defile a man.” Mark 7:20-23 N.K.J.V.

It is a pharisaical sin characterized by superiority of attitude. It is a state of pride that is the very opposite of Jesus’ claim for Himself, meek (praotes) and lowly (tapeinos).

When the Elephant in My Room is Pride

The Bible is clear on pride. Pride is not from God but from the world (1 John 2:16). Pride will bring us down (Prov. 29:23; 16:18) and bring disgrace (Prov. 11:2). Jesus said that it is one of the defiling expressions of a heart opposed to God (Mark 7:22). It is one of those pervasive heart problems that can drive a life like few other struggles can. It can even drive good things we do in ministry.

“I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who examines the minds and hearts. And will give to each one of you according to your works.” Revelation 2:23.

Hearts, kardia, Strong’s # 2588 is from a root word meaning “to quiver” or “to palpitate.” The physical organ of the boy, the center of physical life, the seat of one’s personal life (both physical and spiritual), the center of one’s personality, the seat of one’s entire mental and moral activity, containing both rational and emotional elements.

It is the seat of feelings, desires, joy, pain, and love. It is also the center for thought, understanding and will. The human heart is the dwelling place of the Lord and Holy Spirit. In verse 23, the omniscient Lord sees into the innermost being where all decisions concerning Him are made.

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2 NKJV.

Renewal, Anakainosis, Strongs#342, a renewing or a renovation which makes a person different than in the past.

To “renew” is “to renovate” implying a restoration to freshness or to an original state. It implies the potential of redemption’s power to reinstate features of God’s original intention for humanity and a recovery of many potentialities of the soul as designed before the fall.

The mind speaks to the intellect or understanding, but also includes all that is described in the word “mind-set,” that is, the feelings (emotions) and the will (a group as a definition of the soul, mind, will, emotions). Being “transformed” by the renewal of the mind indicates a literal “change in the form or formulas of thought or being.”

This speaks of redemption’s provision of power to instill godliness in us—a power that transforms:

Our thoughts, which lead to formulating

Our purposes, which proceed to dictate our actions; and, so,

Our actions become character-determining habits, shaping the life and setting the course for the future.

The path to godly living is not some complex plan, nor is it energized by the flesh, but it does call the believer to willing submission to the Father’s provision and ways.

Seeing the invisible: Therefore, we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing yet the inward man is being renewed day by day (speaks to a process over time) 2 Cor. 4:16.

And have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him… Col. 3:10. By your patience possess your souls. Luke 21:19.

Being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God: to declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Romans 3:24-26 KJV.

Redemption, apolutrosis, Strong’s #629. “To deliver by paying a price.” The N.T. records the fulfillment of the O.T. types and prophecies of redemption through the sacrifice of Christ. The completed truth is set forth in the three words which are translated redemption:

Agorazo, “to purchase in the market.” The underlying thought is of a slave market. The subjects of redemption are “sold under sin” (Romans 7:14), but are moreover, under sentence of death (Ezk. 18:4; John 3:18, 19; Rom.3:19; Gal.3:10). And the purchase price is the blood of Redeemer who dies in their stead (Gal.3:13; 2Cor.5:21; Mat. 20:28; Mk. 10:45; 1 Tim. 2:6; 1Pet.1:18).

Exagorazo, “to buy out of the market.” The redeemed are never again to be exposed to sale.

Lutro, “To loose,” “To set free by paying a price (John 8:32; Gal.4:4,5, 31,5:31Rom.8:21). Redemption is by sacrifice and by power (Ex. 14:30); Christ paid the price, The Holy Spirit makes deliverance actual in experience (Rom.8:2).

“Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation tend days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” Revelation 2:10 NKJV.

Tested, peirazo, Strong’s # 3985. To explore, test, try, assay, examine, prove, attempt, tempt. The word describes the testing of the believer’s loyalty, strength, opinions, disposition, condition, faith, patience, or character. Peirazo determines which way one is going and what one is made of. Tested in a good sense John 6:6; 2 Corinthians 13:5; Heb. 11:17 and in a bad sense Matthew 16:1; 22:18; 1 Corinthians 10:9.

A current example of the latter is found in the cesspool of our highly payed branches of organized government the Kleptocracy.

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases…Psalm 103:2,3.

Forgives, salach, Strong’s # 5545: To forgive, pardon; spare someone; to relieve someone of the burden of their offense. This verb occurred 50 times in the O.T. in every occurrence God does the forgiving; never does salach represent a man’s forgiving anyone.

No small wonder why Jesus’ listeners were shocked when they heard Him say “your sins are forgiven” (Luke 5:20). They responded, “Who can forgive sins but God alone?” (Luke 5:21). These supposedly well-educated scribes knew that forgiveness is God’s prerogative. In Isaiah 55:7, salach is intensified by a helping verb: “He will abundantly pardon.” Jeremiah 33:8 proclaims God’s eagerness to forgive His people.

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Scott is a friend who has prayed with over 5 thousand people, and trained 600 Pastors. He is a genuine man of God. He has prayed for me and my wife as well as trained me.
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